The issue of reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and the continuation of the lineage is a “religious matter” and is not a “political football” which countries like China and others can play, said Shivshankar Menon, former national security adviser and ambassador to China.
At an event in Delhi marking 75 years since the Dalai Lama assumed religious and temporal leadership of Tibet, Menon said “We, in India, are privileged to have the Dalai Lama between us. His teachings, his wisdom has made a difference to our social harmony in India.
“Over the span of 66 years we have also been able to preserve Tibetan culture due to him… The practice of Tibetan Buddhism must continue. The world is better off because of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism.”
In his view, Beijing has “barely been able to move the needle of public opinion outside of China” on the Tibetan issue. China invaded and occupied Tibet in 1950 and has claimed it alone has the right to decide on who succeeds the Dalai Lama. It is a claim that has hardly any support or credibility.
“The kind of credibility the Tibetan cause has because of the His Holiness, because of the behaviour of the Tibetan people, I think is really incredible across the world. It’s something to be proud of and I think that’s the best answer (to China),” Menon said.
Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) – representing the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, was also present at the event.
“Culturally we are much closer to India than any other country, including China… We have to challenge China’s narratives on the Tibetan issue. Everyone needs to know the finer details of Tibetan history. Everyone takes it for granted. We need to keep focussing on Tibetan history. For independent people history is important but for us refugees history is more important to prove ourselves.”
Tsering also stressed on the fact that the Tibetan diaspora globally has been wanting the Dalai Lama to continue the lineage and also choose a successor. This is the reason why Tsering – also called ‘Sikyong’ in Tibetan language – said the Dalai Lama announced during his 90th birthday celebrations in the month of July, that not only will the lineage of Dalai Lama continue but his successor will be born in a “free country.”
He had declared that the sole authority to select his successor rests with the Gaden Phodrang Trust founded by him in 2011 and that there will be a “framework” to discuss his succession.
“China is using the reincarnation issue as a political tool… Next Dalai Lama can be a woman or a successor can be selected by the current Dalai Lama while he is living,” Tsering said.
